Where Clove Trails, Waterfalls, and Villages Outshine the Coastline
For decades, travelers have found calm in the black-sand beaches of Lovina. Known for dolphin-watching, peaceful sunsets, and a laid-back charm, the Lovina Bali resort scene has long been a gentle counterpoint to Bali’s more crowded coasts.
But just a short drive inland — where the air cools and the landscape rises — another layer of Bali reveals itself. North Bali, particularly the lush highlands between Munduk and Pedawa, offers not just serenity, but soul. And nestled among these hills is Umah Lusa, a resort not just in location, but in philosophy.
This is a North Bali resort for travelers who want more than sand between their toes. They want meaning between the moments.
From Lovina to the Hills: A Journey Worth Taking
The road from Lovina to Umah Lusa winds gently upward. Along the way, you’ll pass quiet temples, old cacao groves, and roadside shrines buried in bougainvillea. Villages give way to jungle. You roll down the window — and the scent of cloves replaces the salt in the air.
Within 40 minutes, you’re in Pedawa, one of Bali’s last remaining Bali Aga communities. And just beyond its edges, hidden among the clove trees, sits Umah Lusa — part retreat, part hillside sanctuary.
It’s here where guests begin to understand: the best part of North Bali isn’t where you arrive. It’s how you feel when you get there.
Umah Lusa: A Lovina Alternative with Depth
Unlike many Lovina Bali resorts that stretch along the coast, Umah Lusa climbs upward. Literally and spiritually.
The villas face forest and valley. No crowds. No clubs. Just nature. Just space. The sound of gamelan in the distance. A rooster’s call. A pot of clove leaf tea brewing just before sunrise.
At Umah Lusa, the focus isn’t on doing. It’s on being.
What to Explore: Munduk’s Trails, Pedawa’s Traditions
Want waterfalls? Munduk is close — with Banyumala Twin Falls, Golden Valley, and forest trails that curve through coffee plantations and spice groves.
Crave culture? Walk into Pedawa, where families still harvest cloves by hand, and ceremonies follow ancestral calendars — not travel apps.
Want salt air? Head down to Lovina for the afternoon — then return to the hills, where cool nights and star-filled skies cradle you in silence.
For a deeper perspective, see The Spice Trails of Bali or Cultural Highlights of North Bali.
Nourishment After the Journey: Cengkeh Restaurant
After exploring the region, return to Umah Lusa for a meal that mirrors the place: grounded, generous, and real.
Try the Coq au Vin, slow-cooked and served with local root vegetables. Or a lighter plate of Grilled Tempeh in Coconut Cream Sauce, paired with wild rice and a garden salad. The Tropical French Toast is a crowd favorite — coconut yogurt, jackfruit, and palm sugar caramel. And every sip — from homemade jamu to a Kecombrang Margarita — reflects the land around you.
This isn’t dining with a view. It’s dining within the view.
Final Thought
If you’re staying in a Lovina Bali resort or planning your next North Bali escape — don’t stop at the shore.
Head into the hills. To the trees. To the quiet. To a place where time slows, and meaning rises.
Umah Lusa isn’t just a destination. It’s a reintroduction — to Bali, to balance, and to yourself.